diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 13f56ffde..b9c2f26b6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -29,11 +29,16 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        java: [ 17, 21 ]
-    name: build with jdk ${{matrix.java}}
+        os:
+        - ubuntu-latest
+        - windows-latest
+        java:
+        - 17
+        - 21
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    name: build with jdk ${{matrix.java}} (${{ matrix.os }}) 
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -68,7 +73,7 @@ jobs:
 
       ## Attach target directories for safe Sonar scan in separate job
       - name: Attach Build Output
-        if: matrix.java == '17'
+        if: ${{ matrix.java == '17' && matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest' }}
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: target
diff --git a/tools/gradle-plugin/pom.xml b/tools/gradle-plugin/pom.xml
index 95f612b40..118238a85 100644
--- a/tools/gradle-plugin/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/gradle-plugin/pom.xml
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     <properties>
         <gradle.executable>./gradlew</gradle.executable>
         <gradle.task>build</gradle.task>
+        <gradle.opts>-Xms4096M -Xmx4096M</gradle.opts>
         <skip.gradle.build>false</skip.gradle.build>
         <artifactFilePrefix>${project.artifactId}</artifactFilePrefix>
     </properties>
@@ -44,6 +45,15 @@
     </dependencies>
 
     <build>
+        <pluginManagement>
+            <plugins>
+                <plugin>
+                    <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+                    <version>3.5.0</version>
+                </plugin>
+            </plugins>
+        </pluginManagement>
         <plugins>
             <!-- copy all dependencies to target/dependencies -->
             <plugin>
@@ -115,7 +125,7 @@
                             </arguments>
                             <environmentVariables>
                                 <MAVEN_REPO_LOCAL>${settings.localRepository}</MAVEN_REPO_LOCAL>
-                                <GRADLE_OPTS>${env.MAVEN_OPTS}</GRADLE_OPTS>
+                                <GRADLE_OPTS>${gradle.opts}</GRADLE_OPTS>
                             </environmentVariables>
                             <skip>${skip.gradle.build}</skip>
                         </configuration>
@@ -234,7 +244,7 @@
                                     </arguments>
                                     <environmentVariables>
                                         <MAVEN_REPO_LOCAL>${settings.localRepository}</MAVEN_REPO_LOCAL>
-                                        <GRADLE_OPTS>${env.MAVEN_OPTS}</GRADLE_OPTS>
+                                        <GRADLE_OPTS>${gradle.opts}</GRADLE_OPTS>
                                     </environmentVariables>
                                     <skip>${skip.gradle.build}</skip>
                                 </configuration>
@@ -281,7 +291,7 @@
                                     </arguments>
                                     <environmentVariables>
                                         <MAVEN_REPO_LOCAL>${settings.localRepository}</MAVEN_REPO_LOCAL>
-                                        <GRADLE_OPTS>${env.MAVEN_OPTS}</GRADLE_OPTS>
+                                        <GRADLE_OPTS>${gradle.opts}</GRADLE_OPTS>
                                     </environmentVariables>
                                     <skip>${skip.gradle.build}</skip>
                                 </configuration>